We are a group of civil society activists and researchers who are concerned about public transportation in Hyderabad. We want a mass rapid transit system that includes the buses, trains (MMTS/Metro), sidewalks and cycle paths. But the proposed elevated metro will not meet these objectives.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Will KCR keep his promise or dump them? If Sultan Bazaar is
lost, a part of the history and soul of Hyderabad will be lost. It depends on
KCR now. The bustling Sultan Bazaar and a section of Kothi observed bandh
yesterday against the metro corridor-2 which will pass thru the bazar and raze
many shops. In early 2011 Sultan Bazar, Badi Chawdi and Putlibouli markets
observed bandhs and undertook protest actions several times. It was such a
fierce resistance that, till today, the metro authorities dared not enter the
area to conduct even soil tests.

On 17 June 2011, KCR addressed a public meeting in Sultan
Bazar and warned of bloodshed if the market is touched. After becoming the CM
of Telangana, he promised on the floor of the Assembly (I don't remember the
date) that the metro would be diverted and will not touch Sultan Bazaar.

Several months have passed and now the L&T metro
authorities have started visiting the area and making markings for pillars. The
traders sensed the danger and observed a bandh yesterday reiterating their
earlier demand. They also reminded Shri KCR to keep his word. However, one sad
difference this time is that the Badi Chawdi did not participate in the bandh
as differences cropped up between the traders of the two bazaars.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Mr. Sreedharan's name has been used by several govts to forcibly thrust metro projects on cities. Vijayawada and Vizag are the latest victims. One is saved now. The Urban Devt ministry made scathing remarks on the DPRs prepared by him. The Social & Envi. Impact report for Hyderabad prepared by DMRC is third rate. We said it before. Read this item in Metro India.http://metroindia.com/cities/article/26/08/2015/centre-denies-metro-rail-project-in-vijayawada/12761The following news item is from Deccan Chronicle, 26 August 2015, Vijayawada edition

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

నిజంగా అయితే "మాట తప్పిన మెట్రో" అని కాప్షన్ వుండాలి. Hyd Metro Rail wants to default now. HMR entered into an MoU with Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MORTH), GoI to build 11 flyovers parallel to the elevated metro on the 29-km corridor-1 (Miyapur-LB Nagar) on National Highway-9. It was signed on 18th October 2011. Timeline was to complete those flyovers in 4 years i.e., by October 2015. Works have not even been started. We argued then that construction of these flyovers will cause more damage the city. We even addressed a press meet. When the metro is brought in as a solution to traffic, why flyovers again? Can the existing roads provide sufficient space to build those flyovers parallel to the elevated metro corridor? Now, MORTH asked HMR to deposit Rs.300 cr to build those flyovers. HMR doesn't want to do it. The news item given below in Eenadu Telugu daily (24 July 2015) says that the HMR has changed its mind. If so, why did it sign the agreement with MORTH?